Leaders Class

Welcome to Leaders class!

Leaders is an exciting time for the children at Sleights as they are the oldest children in school. Leaders class includes children from Year 5 and 6. They are taught by Mrs Porter and supported by Mr Everall in their own building on the school playground.

In Leaders, children are taught maths and English daily and they also gather together with the rest of the school in collective worship. This half term our Christian value is ‘generosity’.

Children in Leaders class love to read. The children are very lucky to have an amazing school and class library, filled with a diverse range of books that they can enjoy reading for pleasure. Children also enjoy listening to the class story at the end of each school day. We are currently reading ‘The Jamie Drake Equation’. In addition to reading for pleasure, Leaders also enjoy sharing a range of texts during whole class reading sessions, where they have the opportunity to read fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts as well as a whole class reading book. This half term, Leaders will be reading ‘Journey to Jo’burg’ in whole class reading sessions. Reading at home is also incredibly important. Please record the reading that your child does at home in their reading record and ensure that this, alongside their individual reading book, is in school every day.

This term, the whole school topic is ‘Whitby’. Leaders will be basing their art and geography work around this theme. Alongside this, children will learn about earth and space in science and black history in history lessons. 

Children in Leaders class are very lucky to be taught by specialist teachers throughout the week. On a Tuesday, children will need their PE kits in school so that they can take part in dance with Hannah Verity. They will also need to bring their swimming kits on Tuesdays for swimming lessons, which will take place at Whitby Leisure Centre on a Tuesday morning. Children will continue to bring home their instruments to practice throughout the week and these will need to be returned on a Thursday morning ready for music with Ralph. Computing with Mrs Gurney will also take place on a Thursday afternoon.

Each week, homework will be set on Sumdog on a Thursday. Children will also receive spellings every two weeks; these will be sent home on a Thursday. Spellings tests will happen on the second Wednesday.

Our class blog will be updated each week so keep an eye on this for exciting updates throughout the term.

Friday 19th May 2023

So much learning has been happening in Leaders this week. Here is our weekly round up!

In English, the children have been planning and writing narratives based on the animation, ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’. The vocabulary and sentence types used are really making for some excellent stories! I can’t wait to read the finished products next week.

In history, we have continued to learn about the Mayans. This week, the children learned about the four main time periods for this time in history: the preclassic, classic, post classic and contact and Spanish conquest. We explored some key events from each time period to consider the differences between them and plotted them onto a timeline. The children then learned the different theories of why the Mayan civilisation declined. 

We are currently learning about collage in art on Friday we researched and learned more about one of our focus artists, Ben Giles. We learned that Ben Giles works from his studio in Norwich in the UK, where he creates commissions for companies such as Google and Apple as well as many magazines. We enjoyed exploring his collages before the children created pages in their sketch books to demonstrate what they had learned about him as well as spending some time evaluating his artwork.

In Collective Worship this week, we focused on Christian Aid week. This is a charity the children are already familiar with from their work earlier in the year in RE. Together, we explored some of the people and communities Christian Aid help.

On Thursday, we were joined by the Zambezi Sunrise Trust, which is a charity that helps to provide education to children in Zambia. The children learned about the charities work and what life is like for the children who attend school in Zambia. We are looking forward to working with this charity to forge a link between Sleights and the Linda Community School. Next Friday, we will be holding a coffee and cake afternoon to raise funds for this amazing cause. 

Finally, we had tennis success on Wednesday, when eight children from Leaders competed in a tennis tournament. The children secured a wonderful third place! Well done!

Friday 12th May 2023

It has been a busy week in Leaders Class.

This week, Year 6 children sat the SATs. The children approached the week with positivity and demonstrated excellent effort throughout. A big well done to all of the Year 6 pupils from Leaders.

The Year 5 Leaders have been exploring angles this week. They can identify and estimate angles and are looking forward to learning more next week.

In art this term, our focus will be on collage. This week, the children demonstrated the collage skills they already have when designing their own cover page for this unit. Next week, we will begin to explore our focus artist so keep an eye on our class blog for updates. 

In writing this week, Leaders have finished their character descriptions, with a focus on Scissors from the animation ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’. The children have really pushed themselves to use new and challenging vocabulary and have succeeded; the pieces were extremely interesting to read. 

A big well done to Leaders for another brilliant week!

Welcome to the Summer Term!

Wow! I can’t quite believe that it is the summer term already. There is so much to look forward to this term so keep an eye on our class blog for exciting updates.

This week, the children have been focusing on characterisation in their English lessons, developing skills to show and not tell their reader about their character. The vocabulary that has been used has been wonderful to see and I am looking forward to seeing their character descriptions develop next week. 

In maths, children have been exploring statistics. This week, Year 6 children have learned how to read and interpret pie charts as well as how to draw them. Year 5 children have explore line graphs, including drawing and interpreting them. Keep up the brilliant work!

In collective worship this week, the children have been introduced to our new Christian Value, ‘Friendship’. The children have explored what friendship means and how we can show care and respect to our friends. The responses have been excellent.

This term, our new topic is ‘When I grow up’. Take a look at our curriculum map to find out more about our learning for this term.

 

Friday 10th March

It has been another brilliant week in Leaders class.

On Monday, the children enjoyed a history drama day, focussed on how punishment has changed over time. The children demonstrated their learning from the day by performing for the whole school to finish the day. On Tuesday, the Leaders made links to the previous day’s learning when they learned about how punishments were decided during the Anglo-Saxon time period. The children learned about the different courts, trials by ordeal and oath-bearers.

This week in English, we have continued to shared write an argument, considering if palm oil should be banned. The writing produced has been amazing and I am looking forward to seeing how the children apply their skills to their independent writing about plastic next week.

In RE, the Leaders have been thinking about the events that led to Jesus’ death. There were some incredibly thoughtful responses during this lesson. Next week, we will be considering why Jesus died and what this means to Christians.

In science, the children have continued to learn about life cycles. This week, the children focussed on amphibians, with a specific focus on frogs. The work produced was brilliant.

On Thursday, the final rehearsals took place before the Leaders class band takes to the stage at the Eskdale Festival on Monday. The children have worked incredibly hard and I am looking forward to seeing them perform together on stage.

To finish the week, Leaders tackled a longer pieces of text in French. The children were able to use cognates to understand the text, which was about our new French topic, the Olympics. The enthusiasm and understanding demonstrated was brilliant to see. 

Have a brilliant weekend. 

Friday 3rd March 2023

What a busy start to the new half-term Leaders have had!

In English, the children have been working incredibly hard on our new unit – balanced arguments. To start the unit, Leaders explored the features of a balanced argument before applying these features to their own writing. To do this, the children began by researching reasons for and against banning plastic, with brilliant discussions happening as a result of what was found out. This week, as a class, we have began our shared writing, considering if palm oil should be banned. Once this is complete, the children will then independently apply the skills that they have gained throughout the unit to their own independent piece about plastic.

In maths, the children have been busy working with decimals, with a focus on calculating equivalent fractions and decimals this week. 

In history,  Leaders learned about the changing role of police throughout history as part of our crime and punishment unit. They explored a text and retrieved the key dates from it to establish a timeline to mark the changes and key events. They found out that the first police force, which was established in 1829, wore top hats and carried truncheons. We were very lucky that a Leader had brought in her great great granddad’s truncheon, which the children enjoyed exploring. The children also explored a police whistle. We found out that the police did not start using these until later in the 1800s.

In DT, the children have been considering bridge designs in preparation for designing their own bridges. They learned about beam, arch, truss and suspension bridges and considered tension and compression. I am looking forward to seeing where this learning leads the children’s designs.

To finish the week, it was brilliant to celebrate all things books for World Book Day. The children looked fantastic and the day was enjoyed by all.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday 10th February 2023

The Leaders have finished a brilliant half term by writing their independent flashback stories in English. It was a pleasure to read them all. Well done, Leaders!

In science, the children learned about voltage and explored the impact of it on the brightness of a bulb. The children made excellent predictions and supported these with their scientific knowledge. 

On Thursday, it was lovely to welcome families into school again to take part in our storytelling morning. The children enjoyed creating their own stories using the story telling props and cards. 

On Friday, we ended the half term by raising funds for CHUF, a charity that supports babies and children with heart disease. It was great to see so many children in school wearing red and for the children to reflect on why we raise money for this cause. A highlight for all children was the whole school cha cha slide for CHUF. 

Have a great half term everyone!

Friday 3rd February

This week, Leaders have been getting practical in science, exploring the different components that can be used in a circuit and which are essential for one to work. The children were able to use their knowledge about circuits to predict whether a circuit would work and how the components would be effected by the addition of extra components. The children then observed what happened when they made the circuits in class.

In English, the children have been describing Camp Green Lake from the book Holes and have used a range of openers and descriptive techniques when doing so. Using the ideas generated from this week’s lessons, the children have written a setting description, which they have also self-assessed and edited. The children are looking forward to writing their own ‘Holes’ inspired flashback stories next week.

In RE, the children have been exploring how Muslims express their religious beliefs through art work, with some brilliant responses being made. The children have also been enjoying exploring our current Christian Value of courage. They have particularly enjoyed learning about courageous people from history, with one of this week’s being Harriet Tubman. 

Great work, Leaders!

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Friday 27th January

It has been another brilliant week in Leaders class.

In English, the children have started their new unit on narrative writing. Over the next few weeks, the children will work towards writing a flashback narrative on our current class text, Holes. To start this unit, the children have been thinking about their vocabulary choices to describe a setting and have been using a range of openers.

In history, Leaders learned how crime was reported in the Roman period. They explored Roman curse tablets to find out more about this theme. 

In art, the children have started their new unit on printing and explored the artist William Morris, enjoying being creative in their art books in the process.

On Friday afternoon, the children finished the week with a session from Mel, who worked with the children to understand more about the brain and how it impacts mental health and well-being. There were some great discussions throughout the afternoon.

Well done, Leaders!

Friday 20th January 2023

It has been another brilliant week in Leaders class, with lots being achieved by the children across the curriculum.

This week, the children worked hard to plan and write a newspaper report about Hawkes, our new PE provider. They will use the skills they learned during our shared writing of this to write their independent reports about Hope Whitby. The children started this task on Friday, using the chrome books. 

In history, our new unit focuses on crime and punishment throughout history. This week, the children explored the vocabulary that they will be using throughout this unit, such as deterrent, retribution and rehabilitation.

On Friday, it was lovely to welcome families into the classroom to work with the children on Chinese New Year celebration crafts. We are looking forward to the next event, which will be happening soon.

Friday 13th January 2023

The children in Leaders have continued to work hard across the curriculum this week.

In maths, the children have tackled their challenging work on fractions and are able to add and subtract fractions with different denominators and add and subtract mixed numbers.

In English, the children have continued to work on newspaper reports. This week, Leaders have focused on using a range of openers and can also use direct and reported speech. Next week, the children are looking forward to applying their skills to a full newspaper report.

In history, the children will be learned about crime and punishment throughout history. This week, the children completed their pre-assessment to consider what they already know. We are looking forward to finding out more next week. 

Lots of reading has taken place in Leaders class this week. We have read a further three chapters of our class text ‘Holes’ and have explored a non-fiction newspaper report in our other reading sessions. The children explored how to answer three mark questions about impressions and did a great job at achieving the full three marks.

Well done, Leaders!